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2. Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. 0. WEEKS & F. RUSSELL. Apparatus for Vu lcanizing Rubber Boots & Shoes. No. 233,386.

Patented Oct. 19

N.PETE.ns, FHOiO-LITHOGRAFHER. WAsmNGwN. D c

2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

T. 0. WEEKS & F. RUSSELL.

Apparatus for Vuloanizing Rubber Boots 8L Shoes. No. 233,386. Patented Oct. 19, I880.

DNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn THEODORE C. WEEKS, OF MELROSE, AND FISK RUSSELL, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS; SAID RUSSELL ASSIGNOR TO SAID WEEKS.

APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZING RUBBER BOOTS AND SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,386, dated October 19, 1880.

Application filed February 25 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THEODORE U. W EEKS,

of Melrose, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and FIsK 5 RUSSELL, of Cambridge, in said county and State, both citizens of the United States, have invented a new and useful Machine or Apparatus for Vulcaniziug India-Rubber Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to the vulcanization of india rubber boots and shoes in molds adapted for that purpose, with steam chambers or jackets, the object of it being to enable manufacturers of rubber boots and shoes to vulcanize them at much less cost than by the common method, and at the same time to produce a much better looking and more useful and durable rubber boot and shoe than has been made heretofore.

The common and well-known method of vuloanizing india-rubber boots and shoes, when the linings and rubber for the leg, upper, and sole are all properly fitted to each other and cemented together, has been and is to have a large oven, into which a truck carrying as many boots or shoes, or both, as can be arranged on it without one being in contact with another, is introduced. The oven is tightly o closed and heat applied and continued for several hours, usually requiring about seven or eight hours heating, and the boots and shoes, when done in this way, have thick ridges at the seams, which are often weakly joined 3 5 and liable to separate before the boot or shoe is much worn.

In boots and shoes vulcanized in our apparatus the scams or joinings of the rubber entirely disappear and the whole coating of rub- 0 her is welded into one homogeneous whole,

having equal and suflicient strength for the greatest durability at all parts of the surface alike.

Our apparatus consists of a supporting-frame of suitable form, dimensions, and strength, in

which is suspended the mold in which the boot or shoe is vulcanized. When the mold is closed the inner conformation of it is exactly What that of the outer surface of the vulcan- 5o ized boot will be when it is done, and any marks desired on the outside of the boot may be permanently fixed there by engraving the counterpart of them on the inside of the mold.

The mold consists of two side plates, both of which, when closed together, cover the entire surface of the leg and vamp and heel of the boot down to the sole, opening and separating on a central line longitudinal with the leg and foot of the boot, and they are coupled together at one edge by a strong hinge and at the other edge by a wedge-shaped clamp or clamps, which are moved onto the edge of the side plates and withdrawn by a screw working through the frame of the machine, or by a lever properly arranged for the purposea sole-plate which has an inner surface, a counterpart of the form desired for the outer surface of the sole and heel of the boot or shoe. This is moved up to and held in its place in the mold by a screw acting through the frame of the apparatus, or by a lever suitably arranged.

Both the side plates and the sole-plate are made with chambers in them for steam, and have suitable openings for the ingress and egress of steam or water, and the chambers are connected with each other by openings which allow a free passage of steam, so that the heat and pressure may be the same in all the chambers. The inlet for steam may be by openings through the screws mentioned, it desirable. These steam-chambers are made to cover as nearly as possible the whole surface of the mold.

In the flat inner surface of the side plates, 2 5 a little outside of the cavity which forms the mold for the boot, and running parallel to the outer line of the boot-mold, is made a groove in each plate, so placed that when the side plates are closed together these grooves form a small steam-chamber, between which and the cavity in the mold in which the boot is vulcanized there is a space of half to three-quarters of an inch. Suitable openings to admit steam into this chamber are provided. This 5 steam-chamber is also extended around the sole and heel plate in the same relative position in regard to the joint between it and the side plates, the purpose of it being to prevent the pressure inside the boot while it is being too vulcanized from forcing a thin film of rubber into the joint between the plates. There is also a follower, which is shaped to close and fit the open end of the mold and the boot in it, which is moved up and held firmly to the opening by a screw acting through the frame of the apparatus, or by a suitalily-arranged lever. This follower not only closes the mold exactly tight, so that air or steam can be forced into the mold and insideof the boot to be vulcanized under a strong pressure, but it is also made to tit inside the end of the legofthe boot and hold it firtnly to the inside of the mold, so that airor steam forced into the mold cannot get in between the outer surface of the boot and the inner surface of the mold.

These several parts of the mold and its uppurtenances, as well as the frame. should be made of iron or other suitable metal, and of sufficient strength to withstand a heavy [Hessure of steam or air-say one hundred and fifty to two hundred pounds to the square inch.

The joints between the several pieces of the mold must be fitted with greateare and nicely to prevent the eseape of steam or air when forced into the mold under pressure.

In the drawings annexed, Figure I shows a side view of the apparatus with one of the side plates of the mold removed. showing the boot in the mold. Fig.2 isa vertieal sectional view ot'thcmold aml part ofthe frame, showing the steam-ehanthers in the side plates and the sole-plate. Fig.3 is a horizontal sectional view of the mold ainl partof the frame. Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus with the mold closed.

The same letters indicate the same parts in the several figures.

a is the frame. I; is a boot in the mold. c is the mold. (I is the elamp holding the two side plates together. 0 is the sole-plate. r is the follower closing the open end of the mold and boot. 1' is the hinge coupling the side plates together, upon whieh they swing. gis a sumilementary stcam-chamber in the joint of the side plates and of the sole-plate and side plate. j is a hollow screw moving the follower. i is an outlet-pipe from the mold. h is a hollow screw moving the soleplate; 1) p p p, handwvheels for turning the screws they are on; I; It, openings into the steamchambers; in, opening into the steamchamber; a n u, steam-ehanibers; III, screwmoving clamp.

In the use of this apparatus the boot or shoe to be vulcanized is made up by cutting out the linings, outer pieces, and soles with heels, and cetnenting them together, with the edges of the rubber closely abutting and covered with a strip, or chamt'ercd and overlapping a little. in very much the same manner in which they are prepared for vulcanizing in the ordinary method. The boot is then placed in the mold and the mold tightly closed, the

follower firmly holding the open end of the boot to the inner side of the mold, so that air or steam cannot get between the outer surface of the boot and the mold. The air is then driven into the inside of the boot with force enough to throw it firmly against the inner surface of the mold and to expel all the air between the boot and the mold through the openings provided for its escape. These openings being closed, steam is admitted to the steam-chambers and the air expelled from them, and the escapcopenings closed and the pressure of air and steamed raised and continued at the same degree for about seven or eight minutes. The heat softens the rubber and the pressure of air inside the boot. drives it against the inner wall of the mold with such force that a uniform thickness of rubber is produced throughout the leg and vamp, and the several partsare welded into one homogeneous whole, and the whole upper to the sole and heel and boot is vulcanized and ready to be varnished or used without "arnishing, as may be preferred, showing no ridges or unevenness where the parts are joined, or any trace of seams whatever, and

having equal strength in all the parts.

Any desirable number of such molds can be arranged upon a platform or bench side by side, adapted for all the difl'erent styles and sizes the trade may require.

We are aware that molds having steam jackets or chambers in them have been used for vulcanizing india-rubber articles in them while under some degree of pressure, aml make no broad claim for such; but

What we doclaim as new and our invention i. An organized machine or apparatus for vuleanizing boots and shoes, consisting of a. supporting-framc, a chambered or jacketed mold having two side plates opening on a central line longitudinal with the leg and foot. and swinging on a hinge at one edge, attached to and supported by the frame, and held closed at the other edge by a clamp or clamps, a sole-plate, and a follower to cover and seal the open end of the boot and mold, all with suitable openings and stops for ingress and egress of steam, air, and water, made and arranged substantially as described.

2. In a steam-chambered mold for vulcanizing boots and shoes, consisting of the several parts described, a supplementary steam-chamber in and following the joint where the several parts come together when the mold is closed, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

T. (3. WEEKS. FISK RUSSELL.

\Vitncsses F. W. MonANDr, G150. S. BOUTWELL. 

